Quick answer:
- Square is closing CBD and hemp merchant accounts on November 5, 2026. Mixed catalog merchants have reportedly been told to remove those products by October 15, 2026.
- The move itself is not complicated. Most merchants are approved in 2 to 3 business days once documentation is in.
- Start now. Underwriters will be buried in late October, right as the holiday season begins.
- The four things that decide how smooth this goes: your documentation, your POS data, your online checkout, and how honestly your new application describes what you sell.
If you have not read the background on what Square announced and why, start here: Square Is Shutting Down CBD and Hemp Merchant Accounts by November 5, 2026. This article picks up where that one ends and walks through exactly what to do next.
Watch: Youtube Short
Step 1: Confirm in Writing Which Notice You Received
Square’s notices are not identical. Merchants whose business is primarily CBD or hemp have reportedly been told the entire account closes November 5. Merchants with a mixed catalog have reportedly been given until October 15 to remove those items and keep the rest of the account.
Do not assume based on what another business owner told you. Open a ticket with Square, ask which category your account falls in, and keep the written answer. Square works on a numbered ticketing system, so ask early and follow up.
Step 2: Gather Your Documentation Before You Apply Anywhere
This is the single biggest factor in how fast you get approved. Have these ready in one folder:
- Certificates of analysis (COAs) for your current product lines
- The last 3 to 6 months of processing statements
- Business formation documents, EIN letter, and ownership details
- A voided check or bank letter for the deposit account
- Your website URL and product pages, or photos of your retail setup
- Any state licenses or permits that apply to your products
Merchants who show up with this set are usually approved in 2 to 3 business days. Merchants who send it in piecemeal are the ones who end up in a two week back and forth.
Step 3: Export Your Square POS and Inventory Data
If you run a storefront on Square POS, export your SKUs, inventory counts, pricing, and customer list now, while the account is still fully active. Waiting until the closure date to pull your data is a risk you do not need to take.
A replacement POS should be able to import that file directly. Vector Payments imports existing SKUs and inventory into the new system as part of onboarding, so you are not rekeying a thousand products by hand. On the new POS you also get inventory, time clock management, and loyalty and rewards, and you own the equipment rather than renting it indefinitely.
Step 4: Sort Out Your Online Checkout
Your website matters as much as your processor here. If you sell online through a closed platform such as Weebly, Squarespace, or Wix, your gateway options are limited and a CBD friendly processor may not be able to plug in cleanly.
Two paths:
1. You Are on WordPress and WooCommerce, Shopify, or BigCommerce
Good news, a direct gateway integration drops into your existing checkout. This is usually a same day technical task.
2. You Are on a Closed Platform
Plan the migration alongside the processor switch instead of after it. It is more work up front, but doing both moves once beats doing them twice.
Either way, do not leave your online store as the last item on the list. It is the piece most likely to add a week.
Step 5: Pick a Processor That Is Committed to the Category, Not Just Open to It
Square supported CBD for eight years and then exited in a single announcement. The lesson is not that processors are unreliable, it is that the underwriting bank behind the processor matters more than the logo on the terminal. Ask directly:
- Which bank underwrites the account, and do they specifically underwrite CBD and hemp?
- Is a reserve required on my account, and if so, how much and for how long?
- How are chargebacks handled on card not present orders?
- What happens if my product line changes, for example if I add or drop a cannabinoid?
- What integrations exist for my exact POS and e-commerce setup?
A processor that can answer all five without hedging is one that intends to be in this category next year too.
Step 6: Run Both Systems in Parallel for a Few Days
Once you are approved, do not shut off Square the same afternoon. Put the new terminal or gateway live, run a handful of real transactions, confirm the deposit lands in the right bank account on the expected schedule, then move your full volume over. Give yourself a week of overlap before your deadline so any surprise is a small one.
The Timeline That Actually Works
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| This week | Confirm which Square notice you got, gather documentation, export POS and customer data |
| Within 2 weeks | Submit your application, get approved, review reserve and pricing terms |
| Weeks 3 to 4 | Install the new POS or gateway, import SKUs, test transactions |
| At least 1 week before your deadline | Move full volume over, confirm deposits, then close out Square |
Mixed catalog merchants working to the October 15 product removal date should shift this entire timeline forward by three weeks.
Mistakes That Cost Merchants the Most
- Waiting until late October. Every affected merchant in the country is moving at once, into the holiday season. Underwriting queues will not be kind.
- Not fully disclosing what you sell. An account opened with a mainstream processor by leaving CBD off the application will get reviewed and shut down later, usually with funds in limbo. That is a worse position than the one you are in now.
- Treating this as only a payments problem. It touches your POS, your website, your inventory data, and your bank deposits. Map all four.
- Assuming your account is safe because your products are fully compliant. Square is exiting the entire category, compliant products included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole switch take?
Approval is typically 2 to 3 business days with complete documentation, 3 to 5 for more complex product lines. Full setup including POS and online checkout is usually done inside two weeks when you start early.
Will I lose my sales history and customer list?
Not if you export before your account closes. Export SKUs, inventory, and customer data while the Square account is still active.
Can I keep my current hardware?
Square hardware is locked to Square. A replacement processor will supply terminals, mobile readers, or a full POS. With Vector Payments you own the equipment.
What if my products change later?
Tell your processor before you launch a new line. A processor that underwrites the category properly can usually approve product changes; a surprise is what triggers account reviews.
I only do a few thousand dollars a month. Is it worth switching now?
Yes. Size does not change the deadline. Small merchants are just as shut off on November 6 as large ones, and they tend to have the easiest applications right now while queues are short.
Do Not Panic, Just Move Early
The Square announcement is disruptive, but it is a paperwork problem with a deadline, not the end of your ability to accept cards. Merchants who start in August are approved and testing by September. Merchants who start in late October are refreshing an inbox while their checkout goes dark.
Square Closes CBD and Hemp Accounts November 5
Ready to Get Moving?
Vector Payments will walk you through every step of the switch, from documentation to the day you close your Square account.